| Citation |
BPB.771.026
17 Jun 1771:41 (718)
London, April 15. Between ten and eleven last night, the
doors of Carlisle-house were opened, and before 1 o'clock
were admitted about one thousand masks, who each for a while
seemed more attentive to the place and novel brilliancy of
the vast illuminations and well-fancied decorations of the
apartments, than to their characters, or that of any other:
this agreeable surprise was succeeded by a variety of humour
and mirth, which lasted til near three o'clock; when the
floodgates of profusion were thrown open, and displayed a
new range of apartments and entertainments, equally
desirable and amazing to every beholder. . .
The principal characters of the masks were, a very clumsy,
unmannerly waggoner; two nimble, well-dressed Morris
dancers, with bells, &c. a melancholy pantaloon; an
excellent group compound of a diverting, facetious punch,
and a quack-doctor. . . a Pierrot, as foolish as need be; a
very little droll Mungo; a very well sustained Sir John
Fa'staff. . . two neat figure dancers in striped silk. . .
as there were precedents of plays at times. . .
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